The Animal Lover is a video work filmed at the French animal painter Rosa Bonheur’s (1822–1899) former chateau and studio, now turned museum, where her winter and summer studio is kept intact.
Bonheur was described by herself and others as a great animal lover. At the same time, her artistic working method was violent and often had fatal consequences for those depicted. At her studio outside Paris, Bonheur collected several species of animals. Here were lions, red deer, sheep, parrots and dogs, some roaming the chateau and some kept in cages.
At Musee Rosa Bonheur countless bodies and skins populate the interior of the studio, not only the animals she herself hunted, but also animals with names that she herself said she loved. In the video The Animal Lover the consequences of Bonheur’s love and artistry is reflected in eyes of glass.
1 min excerpt from The Animal Lover
For viewing of the entire video, length 6:30 min, please get in touch for password and link.
The Animal Lover was produced for the exhibition The Museum Fauna – Lost Tails and Unheard Stories of Resistance at Skissernas Museum and is part of a series of work inspired by the artistic practice and life of Rosa Bonheur. The video was filmed during a residency at Institut suédois in Paris supported by The Swedish Arts Grants Committee. A special thanks to Museé Rosa Bonheur for having us during the filming.
Filmed and edited by EvaMarie Lindahl
Music by Henrik Dahl
Assistance by Ina Nian
